THE BEAVTIE OF THE REMARKABLE Yeare of Grace, 1638. The Yeare of the great Covenant of Scotland.
By T. H.
Printed at Edinburgh by George Anderson, 1638.
THE YEER OF GRACE, 1638.
WHO'ill favour me with winges, that I may flee
To glories Mount, where Laureat Poets bee?
Fill mee with sacred fire, You gentle Nine,
Inspire mee with your Gaïties Divine,
Tune my Theorbe, sweet sisters, stretch the string
Yet higher, that she may more sweetly sing.
Hence all you Soul-dividing cares, go hence,
You heart afflicting griefs, and but dispense
A little with your Captive, let mee play
Within a paradise but one poor day:
Remove your anger, your sad wrath forebear,
Till I do sing the beautie of a year;
In which luxurious amarous, Heaven doth woe
His Mistres Earth, with smiles upon his brow,
And would invite each Gentle Sprite to be
A Poet of this epithalamie.
[Page]Heer all you smyling fancies, hasten heere
You nobler raptures of Apolloes Lyre,
And throng within my breast, all you Idees
Within his Cabinet, come if you please
And my poor soul enrich, come all which may
Teach a young wanton bashfull pen to play.
For now great HE, who streach'd the azure round
About this hanging Ball, hath all things crown'd
With his best blessings, willing men rejoice
In libertie of soul with thankfull voice
'Tis he that's cloathed with light, and dwels in thunder,
Displayes this gratious Year, great Year of wonder▪
A yeare, which shall unto all nations be
A common talk, This our felicitie
Shall be the measure of their souls desire,
And patter
[...] of their wishes, when th' aspire
At such
[...]
[...]oy, peace, harmonie, and blesse
As this Great year of our Great Covenant is
In which are opened the eyes of Nations all.
And fill'd with wonder, thus when our Nephews shall
Ask at their fathers what this year did meane,
(For after yeares from hence shall date their tyme
In Almanackes, and in our historie
This year of joy gold letters shall descry)
The Sage and Eldrs shall their children teach
How heavens the glade wings of their love did stretch
Upon the humble earth, and they shall tell
How in these blessed dayes the land was full
With sweetnesse of the Lord, even as we see
The waters great which covereth the Sea
They shall informe them how contract did passe
'Twixt heavens, and earth, that so this great year was
[Page]Year of the feast, in signe that there shall stand
Betwixt them an Eternall Covenant;
And now each Soul is fill'd with joy, each Man
To tell posteritie hath pen in hand,
I wish to have as many souls and eyes
T'admire and gaze, as stars are in the skyes;
And yet mine extasie would be but small
In such excesse, to see this newborne All,
The wearied rolling heavens, the exhausted earth
Like to the Eagle hath renewed their birth
And lookes, so young, so gay, as when of old
Th'eternall King cast them in virgine mould,
Or first came out of the eternall treasure,
Embellisht with the riches of all pleasure.
The heavens displayes a sweet and smyling grace,
Without a wrinkle, or spot in their face:
So do they shine, washt with a Christall flood,
As then, before the first impostour woo'd
The King of Creatures to taste the trie
Of mistique fruit, thus teaching him to die:
So white the world new-walled did appeare,
Not stained with debauches of the aire
As yet, and in their serene infancie
Of winds and raines, knew note the luxurie.
How thy embosome the enamour'd earth
So kindlie now? See how a gentle breath
Doth feed all living things? VVhat sweetnesse▪
In this so universall Amitie.
O livelie brighnesse! O the beautie rare!
O force of Sun, and moone! O kindnesse deare
Of favouring heavens! And where then was your skill
Till now, that would not make your court'sie kill
[Page]Our feares and povertie, now you do show
More sweetnesse then both Arabees do know:
You have rain'd floudes of Manna, th'earth doth swell
Pamp'red in richer balme. What time can tell
Celestiall powers so strongly all combinde,
As in this year wee wanton worldlings finde?
Heavens treasures have beene shut till now, but lo
In golden floudes of pleasures now we flow,
Powr'd from the cabinet of him who reignes
(Which this great year proclames) above all Kings:
With sublunarie pleasures drunk, wee see
What Heavens can do, and what the Earth can be
When she hath suckt best influence from above,
Or when the Sun with crisped rayes makes love:
When hote flame masculine doth him inspire,
And makes th'earth pregnant with his vigorous fire.
Tell me thou Gentle Planet of the day,
Who through star-poudred Scarf of heaven dost stray,
Who gilds the heavens, & paints the earth with flowrs,
And flames of life through Neptunes bosome powres,
Art Thou the same shyn'd in our Fathers dayes?
Hath any brighter soul given thee new rayes?
What new things hath this earthly globe reveald?
What from Thy sight till now hath it conceald?
What change discovers thou in naturall things?
That thus thou flies 'bout us with glader wings?
Indeed the Taper which we had before thee
Was but a sparkling diamond to thy glorie;
Or like the thin squibes of thy Sisters face,
When she the cold and silent vault doth grace:
We must forsooth confesse (Prince of the day)
Thou obleidges heaven and earth in a strange way:
[Page]Thou hast daign'd to'unvaile thy face, and now we see
Thy naked dy, which masked wont to bee.
Ah gallant Sun, thy wanton dangling hair
Provokes the Frolick Earth t'embalme the air,
Where numberlesse golden atomes of the day
Hath hanging at each one pearles to array
Proud Flora, looking like a glorious Bride,
Attyr'd with Majestie on everie side;
On which the Sun dartes many an amorous look,
Reading his active beautie on Heavens Book,
And dressing in Neptunes glasse his jollier haires,
Each day courts hotlier, and more fine appeares:
No more the Guelded Son of this blest Year
Need now the anger of barbarous season fear,
For his rebuke is taken away, and now
Those fields to which retiring Sun did show
His fainter face, do laugh as well as those,
Who can boast of possession of the rose;
Nay this whole yeere's but a continued May,
Luxurious in her pride, and best array;
And look how much the Heavens doe the fire
Excell, or yet how much the tender Air
Exceed the grosser VVater, even so
Each Tyme, each Thing surpasse their own kinde too;
The Cloudes weep no more, and forget to raine,
The Sun to leave us, and to turne his waine;
The Southern Pole doth wonder at his stay,
And 'gines to question what moves him to play
So long within this artick circled clime,
'Tis cause he'ld see the great change of the tyme;
Which all the Elements do preach; which are
Not of so ley a mettall as they were.
[Page]But more ennobled, and lesse discordant.
For in this great year of the Covenant
An all-embracing sweetnesse doth enlive
Each place and season, now all things do thriv
[...]
A sweet calme influence every where wee see,
As if each of the Stars had drunk a sea
Of nectar, and inebriat every flower
VVith their benigne aspects, and heavenly power.
VVhere would you send your large enquiring eyes?
VVould you them feast on th'earth, or on the skyes?
Or spring through th'air, where Bird briquils & playes,
And sings to natures king, with natur'd layes,
But every where you's finde a strange beautie,
And reverend sweetnesse kisse your conquered eye;
Each glorious object fils our curious soul,
There's nothing now which our desires controule:
The smyling Heavens, flattering, seeme to praise
The strong-beam'd Sun, with his refined rayes,
The fethered voyces, Birdes, devoutly bends
Their keene and learned bills, which nimbly indents
Thousand of various checkred conquering noates,
Darted from mignon prettie warbling throats:
The stately trees where these sweet woodnymph lodge,
(These harmlesse painted Syrens, which disgorge
Their mutuall flames) being wounded with the joy,
And sweetnesse of the espoused harmonie
Did amber teares, weep, cause they could not know
Either to dance or sing, els they'ld do so
And keep a part, yet look they gladlie shake
Their curl'd topes, throwing blossomes to awake
The sleeping Naides in their christall streames
And joine their mirth with their natures athemes,
[Page]VVherein each pittie nature courtes the great
Their own discords, and passions do forget.
The swelling angry winds, who whipt the Sea,
The terrour of the woods which wount to be
Rolling a lowring Horrour through the deep,
Afrighting Mortals in their harmlesse Sleep,
VVith soft and silken winges now gently creep,
Solliciting the winter flowres to peep,
And with authoritie as Heavens coole Fan
Correcting proud Don
Phoebus melting flame.
Their spicknard breathes do laughing blossomes blow
To our labouring trees, and fruites upon them throw,
And gentlie call out from their cloistered gemmes
Our Pestan Roses glorying on their stemmes.
The Arabian winds which boasted that they were
Composed not as other meteors are
But made of Amber Spirits, now do give
Their best elixer, and do murmuring strive,
VVhich shall our flowres most kindly entertaine,
And flatter Flora in an amourous straine:
You pride of nature, glorie in the year,
Svvet flovvres, vvhat Genius bade you appeare
In your best garments? VVould you be renovvnd
'Cause each of you is worth a dyamound.
If Pythagorick transmigration could
'Mongst flovvres, and trees establish'd be, I would
Say that these lovelie soules this year are come
To inhabite you from the Elezium,
Your swet Sabean odours choak us now,
You have Arabian perfumes stiffled too:
Rare Beauties of rare Favour, whence be you,
With your so prettie pride and uncouth hew?
[Page]I thinke you be descended from that race
Of Floraes People, which did Eden grace,
Your Pompe's unusuall, and yee seeme to come
Natures Embassadours, for to tell some
Strange glory of this age, t'assure the land
Of Heavens acceptance of this Covenant,
Which it hath sealed with our common King,
This is belike the Sermon you do bring
Your painted faces, and your pleasant light
Makes of our Earth a constellation bright:
Shine boldly Daughters of this blessed year;
Rejoice you glittering Troupe, and do not fear
That Summers angry Heat, and fretting Cold
Of your sadde enemie darre be so bold
Zou to importune, or to robe your glorie
Ne'er eare did heare, ne'er eye did read in storie
Such yeare as this you're come to celebrate,
Appointed by deare Providence, not Fate,
VVherein Heavens spheares do give a prettier dance,
And the great Mover will have no offence
Given to any sublunarie Creature
(Sweet trees and flowres) but that your joy and pleasure,
May be secure, and full, fred from the fear
Of unkinde Sun, or injuries of the year.
Put foorth aspiring Mountains these your lillies
VVhite as the snow in Salmon, you O valleyes,
VVhich with your violets like a garment are
Most proudly cled, and fragrant as the myrre,
You likewise solemnize this happie yeare
And stretch your carpets which embrodered are
By natures hand, who with Sydonian dye
Thrise drunk doth entertaine the danceing eye:
[Page]Behold this is the year of our great feast,
The world is beautified, and we're opprest
With riches and delights, which do as far
Exceed before times, as the Idalian star
Outshines the lay meteors in the air
Or shrinking shrubes, o'retopes the Cedars fair.
Those Heaven-beloved trees do drinke no more
The vulgar vapors, as they did before,
But feedes on Spirites of the Nobler Rose
Alambiqued by the enquiring nose
Of
Phoebus steeds, who snaring flames and light
Doe yeeld a rellish of a strange delight.
Now intertwist good Trees your amarous armes,
Freely possesse your self in those your charmes,
No Shriv'ling winde dare now to teare your Hair
Now doth your freiz'ld beruques sprusse appear,
The incivile Zephyres who were wont to rove
Amongst your treasures, rushing from the Cove,
Who all your dainties riffled, and threw down
Your Pride, your children humbled to the ground:
Those winds which your yet tender fruit did make
All orphanes, and your selfe did cause to shake
For very fear, now they do no more so,
But kindly taim'd more mercifully blow.
If any of our forefathers should arise
From natures cold bed, and lift up his eyes
Behold the Heavens renew'd, the Earth refin'd
The glory of all the Elements sublim'd
The beautie of the never-lowring Sun,
The sweetnesse of the ever-pleasing Moone,
The riches of each tree, blush of each rose,
The treasures which golden Ceres doth disclose,
[Page]And that before her time, he shall straight smile
And say, This must be sure the fortunat Ile
Or the Hesperids, blessed with the dew
Of Heaven, wherein most lavishlie did grow
The golden aples; or else he would conceave
Both Roles, were changed, and the Spheres to have
Some other motion, or the Sun to approach
From Southerne people his eternall Coach,
And us below the Equator for to ly,
Where loftier Sun dartes his directer ray;
And where he doth dispense a prouder light
From his sublimer Throne flaming more bright.
This good oldman, reviv'd, which never saw
But ordinarie yeares, would stand in aw
To call this
Scotland, nay, sure he would be
Like One transported to sweet Arabie
From some cold hungrie melancholick clime,
To see the charge of season, place, and tyme.
All other yeares being paragon'd with this;
Nor soul, nor life, nor beautie have, nor blesse;
And lookes but like a winter, when these dayes
Doe glory in triumphing matchlesse rayes.
Like as the hoastes of stars do shrink away;
When gentle Phebe cometh foorth to play,
At whose appearing in her fuller grace
Asham'd, like sillie people they hide their face,
And doth retire to a distance, for if shee
Approach too nie, drown'd with her glore they die:
So other yeeres that were the lights of time
The glory of Chronicles, must now think shame,
And hold themselves but rags when this shall be
A dyademe to all Eternitie.
[Page]The former years to this were but Aurore,
And served to usher foorth this great yeares Glore,
Were but thin shades to that great Majestie
Which now appeares cloath'd with felicitie.
Nature hath spent her Spirit for to trime
Her self with Buskings, and to grace the tyme,
Strain'd all her Force and Riches for to show
Unto the world what wonders shee can do,
She hath taught heavens spheres to'utweave a year so fine
That of this Twist they have no more behinde
Which sweetlie doth erect it's statelie head,
O'relooking other humble yeares as dead,
Termines the Worlds hopes, who wondering gaze:
And crownes it worthie of immortall Bayes.
Who so the beautie of this yeare would show
And paint it all exactlie, he must know
First, how to outstare the Sun, with his faint eyes,
Number the Sand, and Dyamounds in the skyes,
For every Season, every Month and Day,
Each blushing apple, at the Suns proud ray
Each forrest, Garden, each embrodered Bray,
Each rose, each lillie, each brave busked tree,
Each of their leaves, each atome of the Sun,
When he is newborne, or when he's going down;
Each twinkle of a star, or her sweet smile,
Who did the boy Endimion ne'er beguile
Would be too thronged in a volume great;
And craves more lines then my poore pen can get,
The Pagnim Poets who can magnifie
A sillie rose, and base things deifie,
Who nature rude thinke that they do obscure,
Metamorphosing, violets in stars pure
[Page]Can no more reach the glory of this time
And seasons beautie, nor they can confine
The boundlesse Ocean in their narrow quill,
Or with few atomes all this All can fill;
Yet let's admire what we cannot attaine;
And prattle as we may with thankfull, straine
While that the rest of Nations all do burne
With jealousie, holding themselves forelorne.
You Mistres of the world, and Europes eye;
You Land, which doth in natures bosome ly;
And you, who never saw our Chairles-waine
Lazie Bootes, and Cassiopea shine;
And you who looke alike to both the Poles,
Whose double Summers no angry Heavens controlles,
All you who thought Heavens spheres did roll for you,
And you alone, be not offended now;
And spare your grudging, if we honoured be
More by the Heavens, dearer to them nor yee.
Stand by neglected Nations, Trouble not
Our feasting, and our mirth, nor interrupt
Our just conceaved joy, learne to admire
Heavens power, and our felicitie this yeare:
And you belov'd Indwellers of the land
Crown'd with advantages, Come hand in hand
Let's shout till we do drown the Spheres in Heaven
Arrest the Sun to stand, and Planets seven,
And make the God of the fift Sphere throw'way
His foolish sword, descend, and with us play;
Each thing within the Universe expresse
A sympathie of our joy and blessednesse
Come blow the trumpet, blow you heavens, rejoice,
Be glad O Earth, Proud Sea, lift up your voice,
[Page]Come with your olive garlands, come vvith palmes
Or with Uranias flowres, and sing your Psalmes
You Virgine daughters, come you damesells all,
And Syons mountain enter shall the Ball;
Reach me my warbling lute, and I'll accord
Th' espoused vaines, sollicite every cord;
I'll court the Ladie'f lyres, whose sacred wombe
All Graces, all sweet Melodie doth entombe,
Bring me my pleasant Harpe, my Gythare dear,
And I will joine with you, I'll strain an air
So sweet, so full, as shall you Hilles entrance
And make their Trees come laughing heer, and dance,
So doth a Candle help the Sun to see,
So doth a sillie Streame ingrosse the Sea;
So doth the Heaven in Arras work appeare,
With every emprison'd Star and silent Sphere,
As my Rash Muse hath now diffused her layes
And whispered as shee could the great yeares praise
Awaking highbred sprites that weare the Bayes,
To stretch their numbers, their proud notes to raise.
Sic erat in fatis.
FINIS.